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Casselman Bridge

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Area
  
< 1 acre

Architect
  
Unknown

NRHP Reference #
  
66000391

Total length
  
108 m

Built
  
1813-1814

Architectural style
  
Other

Height
  
9.1 m

Body of water
  
Casselman River

Casselman Bridge

Location
  
East of Grantsville on U.S. Route 40 Alternate, Grantsville, Maryland

Address
  
10240 National Pike, Grantsville, MD 21536, USA

Hours
  
Open today ยท Open 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayOpen 24 hoursTuesdayOpen 24 hoursWednesdayOpen 24 hoursThursdayOpen 24 hoursFridayOpen 24 hoursSaturdayOpen 24 hours

Similar
  
New Germany State Park, Big Run State Park, Herrington Manor State Park, Dans Mountain State Park, Swallow Falls State Park

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The Casselman Bridge is an historic transportation structure located 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east of Grantsville in Garrett County, Maryland. The bridge was built to carry the National Road across the Casselman River. Historic markers posted at each end read:

Contents

Erected 1813 by David Shriver, Jr.,
Sup't of the "Cumberland Road" (The
National Road). This 80 foot span
was the largest stone arch in America
at the time. It was continuously
used from 1813 to 1933.

Since 1957, the structure, which has also been known as Casselmans Bridge, Castleman's Bridge, and Little Crossings Bridge, has been preserved by the state of Maryland as Casselman River Bridge State Park. The bridge was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and placed on the National Historic Register in 1966.

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History

The 354-foot-long (108 m) stone arch bridge spans 48 feet (15 m) with a 30-foot-high (9.1 m) arch. The bridge was constructed in 1813-1814 to aid in the westward movement through the frontier wilderness west of Cumberland, Maryland. The first wheeled vehicles crossed the bridge in 1815. As a "tidal wave" of western expansion followed the opening of the National Road, Casselman Bridge had heavy traffic that included wagons drawn by 12-horse teams and carrying 10-ton loads. A small portion of the original National Road still exists at the approaches to the bridge.

The bridge was strengthened for motorized traffic in 1911 and continued in service as a highway until 1933, when a modern steel span was built nearby to serve what is now US Route 40 Alternate. In the 1940s and early 1950s, efforts were made to preserve the bridge when sections started to crumble and fall apart. The bridge was closed to vehicles in 1953 and partially restored by the state in the mid-1950s. Additional maintenance occurred in 1979, 1996, 2002, and 2012.

Activities and amenities

The state park offers picnicking facilities and fishing opportunities in Casselman River. The bridge is open to foot traffic. Stanton's Mill, which is also on National Register of Historic Places, lies adjacent to the park.

References

Casselman Bridge Wikipedia